Kia cee'd

Inside line on Kia cee'd

Kia's European newcomer is the cee'd. It'll debut at the Paris Motor Show

Auto Express Car Reviews

By Vaughan Freeman

25th August 2006

The pictures show that the small five-door has quality leather trim, new plastics and a logical switchgear layout.

A bold centre console, complete with a classy brushed aluminium facia and bright orange LED lighting, dominates the large wraparound dashboard, while silver door upholstery and a two-tone colour scheme throughout helps lift the interior. In the rear, the cee'd has passenger space on a par with its key competitors.

The newcomer is Kia's first all-European car. It was styled at the firm's design studio in Frankfurt, Germany, and will be built at a plant in Slovakia. Unlike Kia's previous budget models, it is being marketed as a genuine rival to hatchback class leaders.

However, the cee'd, which is set to debut at September's Paris Motor Show, will be priced around five per cent lower than the equivalent Vauxhall Astra or Ford Focus when it goes on sale in December.

The car's unusual name, which was dreamed up by Kia's German design team, was chosen from a list of around 100 alternatives. Jean-Charles Lievens, Kia Motors Europe senior vice president, said: "cee'd is short, dynamic and innovative. It's unconventional, a tag which breaks the rules. A surprising name for a hatch that will surprise rivals and delight our customers."